Apparatus for sensing a forward position of a vehicle seat
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sensing a forward position of a vehicle seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a permanent magnet located adjacent said forward position, said permanent magnet producing a magnetic field;
a Hall effect device disposed in said magnetic field; and
a first member mountable to the vehicle seat and movable with the vehicle seat, said first member being movable in a path which extends through said magnetic field to a predetermined forward position adjacent said Hall effect device and said permanent magnet, said first member being made of a ferromagnetic material;
said permanent magnet creating a magnetic field of a first flux density acting on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to provide a first output signal when said first member is rearward of said predetermined forward position;
said permanent magnet creating a magnetic field of a second flux density acting on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to provide a second output signal different than said first output signal when said first member is at or forward of said predetermined forward position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for sensing a forward position of a vehicle seat (12)in a vehicle includes a permanent magnet (72) that is located adjacent the forward position and produces a magnetic field. A Hall effect device (70) is disposed in the magnetic field. A first member is mountable to the vehicle seat (12) and is movable with the seat in a path that extends adjacent the magnetic field to a predetermined forward position adjacent the Hall effect device (70) and the magnet (72). The first member is made of a ferromagnetic material. The magnet (72) creates a magnetic field of a first flux density that acts on the Hall effect device (70) to cause the Hall effect device (70) to provide a first output signal when the first member is rearward of the predetermined forward position. The magnet (72) creates a magnetic field of a second flux density that acts on the Hall effect device (70) to cause the Hall effect device (70) to provide a second output signal different than the first output signal when the first member is at or forward of the predetermined forward position.
59 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sensing a forward position of a vehicle seat in a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a permanent magnet located adjacent said forward position, said permanent magnet producing a magnetic field; a Hall effect device disposed in said magnetic field; and a first member mountable to the vehicle seat and movable with the vehicle seat, said first member being movable in a path which extends through said magnetic field to a predetermined forward position adjacent said Hall effect device and said permanent magnet, said first member being made of a ferromagnetic material; said permanent magnet creating a magnetic field of a first flux density acting on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to provide a first output signal when said first member is rearward of said predetermined forward position; said permanent magnet creating a magnetic field of a second flux density acting on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to provide a second output signal different than said first output signal when said first member is at or forward of said predetermined forward position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification